Changwon: Hyundai Rotem Co., the defense systems manufacturing division of Hyundai Motor Group, announced the unveiling of the Middle East variant of its K2 battle tank at a rollout ceremony in South Korea. The event took place at the company's production facility in Changwon, located approximately 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the newly introduced variant, named K2ME, is an export-oriented model specifically developed in collaboration with partner companies. It is designed to operate efficiently in extreme temperatures, reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius, and includes enhanced components such as a new powerpack radiator and an auxiliary turret cooling system.
Hyundai Rotem also revealed plans to increase the use of domestic parts in the K2ME to about 90 percent. This move aims to address previous export restrictions that were a result of the use of some foreign-made parts. Lee Yong-bae, CEO of Hyundai Rotem, remarked that this project, targeting exports to the Middle East, will bolster the global competitiveness of South Korea's defense industry amid rapidly changing global security conditions.